Phonograph pickup assembly



June 28, 1960 MoRmsoN ETAL 2,942,890

PHONOGRAPH PICKUP ASSEMBLY Filed Feb. 19, 1954 INVEN T ORS.

JAMES L. D. MORRISON Y WILLARDJFAULKNER AT TORNE Y5 United States Patent 2,942,890 PHONOGRAPH PICKUP ASSENIBLY James L. D. Morrison, Benton Harbor, and Willard J; Faulkner, Coloma, Mich., assignors to V-M Corporation, Benton Harbor, Mich, a corporationof Michigan;

Filed Feb. 19, 1954, Ser. No. 411,372 b 7 Claims. (Cl. 274-36) The present invention relates to phonograph pickup assembly and more particularly to pickup assembly of the dual stylus type.

. Record changers adapted to play the popular longplaying and standard records are conventionally equipped with dual Stylus pickup cartridges which may be 'operated to shift the proper stylus into operative position for playing these respective records. For the long-playing records, a l-rnil stylus is used and for the higher speed records a 3-mil stylus. It is this type of dual stylus cartridge to which this invention applies. I

It is an object of this invention to provide a multi-stylus cartridge having means for manually positioning a se- To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that thedrawings are illustrative only, and that specific change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated anddescribed, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation in longitudinal section of one embodiment of this invention showing one stylus in operative position; v

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the other stylus in operative position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken substantially on 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is across-section taken substantially on section line 4--4 of Fig. l; and

, Fig. 5 is a perspective illustration of thestylus carriage frame.

With reference to the drawings, the assembly of this line invention is comprised of a plastic or the like body which preferably is molded of two mating halves 12 and 14 interiorly formed to provide encasement for the mechanism to be described hereinafter. One portion of the body it) is provided with an elongated guide chmnel 24. These ears 24. are congruently curved to provide first and second rounded cam surfaces 26 and 28 with a peak'portion 30 being provided therebetween. The

purpdse of these cam surfaces will bev explained moieg fully hereinafter. j'Elongated slots 32 and 34 are provided in the bottom opposite end portions, respectively,

of the frame, also for a purpose to be explained morev fully hereafter. Theframe bottom has another elongated opening 36 intermediate the slots 32 and 34, two' depending V-shaped needle rests 38 and 40 being proably 'apertured to receive the base ends of two needles 46.and 48 are mounted in these opposite ends, respec whichare mounted in the opposite ends, respectively,

of the frame 20. Two rubber blocks 42 and 44 suittively, in registry with the respective slots 32 and 34.

An adhesive or any other suitable means may be used for securing the blocks 42 and 44 in the frame 20.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, the shank of the needle '48' is disposed in its needle rest 40 by reason of the re siliency 'o'f'the block 44, and in Fig. 2 the block 42 I is shown to be yieldably urging the needle 46 into engagement with its needle rest 38.

The cartridge case 10 is further provided with an elongated cavity 50 for receiving a detent roller 52. The" central portion ofroller 52 is reduced in diameter to provide a shaft portion 54 engageable by one end of a detent spring 56 which is pivotally supported on pin 58 in the body 10. The spring 56 is preformed to bias the roller 52 downwardly. As illustrated in Fig.' 1', the roller is in locking engagement with the cam surface 26,

and in Fig. 2, it is in locking engagement with the other cam surface 28. Operation of the frame 20 to shift the roller 52 from one of the cam surfaces 26, 28 to the other is accomplished by means of an operating rod 60, which maybe of ordinary piano wirepivotally-secured to the apertured frame ears 24. Thus, by reciprocating the rod 6t), the frame 20 may be shifted from one dete nt position 26,28 to the other and held in the selected position by the detent roller 52 and spring 56.

An assemblage for converting mechanical vibrations of the needles 46, {48 into electrical energy, which may. be utilized by suitable circuitry for producing audible:

signals, is generally indicated by the reference numeral supporting block 64 holds the usual transducer or ceramic-foil vibration-converting member 66 in the body foil pigtails or leads 72are taken from theopposite 10. The lower end of this member 66 is mechanically fastened to a forked needle depressor 68 (Fig'. ,4), this depressor depending partially through the frame opening 36. A rubber backing block 70 (Figs. 1 and 4) engages the back or upper side of the transducer 66 for yieldably restraining the assemblage 66, 68 against upward movement. and. 70, the assemblage 62 is essentially floatingly mounted in the cartridge body 10. The usual metallic sides of the member 66 for connection to the usual signal-conductingwires 74. i

In one formiof the invention, the styli 4621116 48 are Inoperation, if it is desired to shift the stylus c arriage assembly 18 from one operative position to the other, such as from't-he position of Fig. 1 to the position of Patented J une By means of the rubber blocks 64 dated 1 41V tlisclaimed is:

' I, the rod '60 "is pulled" to the'left, thereby causing the roller 52"to' roll over the cam peakSO' and to fall" into locking engagement withthe cam surface 28. Accompanyingithis movement, the stylus1 46 is withdrawn r left fonrof Contact with 1 the stylus depressor 6 8'} allyfiirrto engagement. with thefstylus rest. 38; :neouslytlrerewith; the lower inclined portionof stylus 48 engages the stylus depressor 68 and" is thereby? forced downwardly into' operative position,- as" seen iniFig;v .2'. The natural resilience of the stylus- 'mou'nting block-i4 will yieldably urge the stylus 48 into engagement withithe stylus depressor 68; 7

Reverse movement of theoperating rod 6% will force the stylus'carriage assembly 1'8 tothe right in the guide channel 16 until the roller 52 falls" into" locking enwhich are mounted two needlesrespectively, a needle depressor operatively" mounted on said body forcooperative engagement with said needles upon operating movement ofjsaid frame, movemen tof said frame in one direction causing engagement of one needle with said 'depres sor for moving said one needle into anoperative position and movement of said frame in the other direction causing engagement of the other needle with said de-' depressor.

gagement withjthe cam surfacelo; Accompanying this 'n'rovfem ent, the" stylus 48' is retracted into contact with its stylus rest 40"" and the stylus" 46" is protracted into biased enga'genrent'withgthe depressor 68; M Q

In playing-operationyvibrations' taken from" the' rec:- ord by thestylus '46", 48 aretra'nsferred' to 'the stylus-d'epressorfi and thence'to the transducer 66.. These me-. clianicalrvi'brations are converted into electrical signals Wh'ichare. conducted fromthe assembly bythe wires 74 t for reproductionpurposes;

I to a rotatable. manual control knob whichwhen shifted to oneposition will move the stylus. 48 into playing position; and when shifted to another position will mo've" V thefotherlstyius' 46 into'playing position.

Bymeans of this: invention, a convenient and com pletelyreliable pickup mechanism is provided for'simplyj extending the proper stylus into playingposition. By using a reciprocatory stylus changing action in the pickup, a. desirably simple manual stylus-changing control is made possible; As explained previously, the operating, rod 60 maybe'reciprocated fromia point remotely 'losaryt o. handle the pickup. Thus; all stylusichanging is accomplishedwithoutthe fear of dropping the'pickup and" V ealising consequent damage thereto. Such damage; is" usually quite costly in the instances in which. the styli are" formed'of diamond or similar'material;

j l phonograph cartridge comprising a supporting member, needle supporti'ng'i means carried by said, supportingjmember; for rectilinear motionhonly, a plurality p of; needles operatively mounted'on said means; needle;

protraoting means earriedtby' saidmember for operative] engagement with saidl needles individually whereby selectiveimovenient of said needle-supporting means; willoperative position, and locating meanslcooperatively inten-posed between said needle-supporting means. andtsaid supjportinglmember for. {positioning said needle-support ing means in one of a plurality of preselected positions 'with respect to said supporting member.,

7 2. A phonograph cartridge comprising a supporting:

member, needle supporting means carried by said sup:

porting 'member for rectilinear motion only, a plurality dflneedlesoperatively mounted. on said means, needle-f s erv'e'toprotract a respective one of 'said needles into an "operativeposition,*detent'means carried'by said-memb'er, 'andllocking-cain 'means providedlon saidneedledet'ent means for locking. said i needle-supporting means inone of aplurality of positio'ns with respect to said sup-r "porting1 member, f, i ,7 g 3 V '3. A phonograph"cartridgeTcomprising;a hody having an, elongated slide channeLEa t needle' carriage assembly received by said cha'nnel forreciprocation,..said assembly mcluding an elongated frame in 'thel opposite ends of ith respect to the pickup such' that itisnot inecese depressor for moving saidone needle into an operative" t depressor for moving said other needle into an operative pressor for" moving" sai'd'other'i needleinto an operative position, and detent means; operatively associated with.

both said body and saidframe: for. selectively positioningeach of-sa'id needles into, fixed engagement with said 4. A phonograph cartridge comprising a body having an elongated slidechannelj. a needle carriage assembly received by said channel for. reciprocation, said assembly including an elongated frame in the opposite ends of which are mounted two needles respectively, a needle depressor operatively mounted on' saidibody' for cooperative engagement with said needles upon operating movement of said frame, movement of said frame in one direction causingj engagement of one needle with said position and movement of said frame in the other direction causing engagement of the other needle with said silient mounting blocks fixed in the oppositerespective 7 frame, movement offsaid frame in one direction causing. engagement ofone needle with said depressor for moving serve to protract a respective one of said needles into an. 7

ends ,ofl saidafram e, said needles being carried by said mountingblocks respectively, a needledepr essoroperatively'mounted on'saidbo'dy for cooperativ'e engagement with said'needles upon operating movement of said said. one needle into an operative position and movement of said frame in the other direction causing engagement of the other needle with said depressor for moving, said other needle into an operative position, a detent cam surface provided on said frame, andva detent roller carried by said body for operative engagement with said cam surface, said surface having two positioning portions which correspond respectively, with the positions of said frame at which said respective needles engage said depressor. r

6'. Alphonograph cartridge comprising abody having 7 an elongated slide channel, a needle carriage assembly received by saidchannel for reciprocation, said assembly including an elongated frame; in the opposite ends of' which are mounted two needles respectively,'two resilient mounting blocks fixed in the opposite respective ends 7 offsaid frame, said needles being carried by said mounting V protractin'g' means carried by said member ,for'. operf .iyative engagementwith said needles individually whereby" selective *movement of said needle-supporting means-will supportingmeans fo ncooperative engagemenf with saidblocks respectively, a" needle depressor operatively car- -ried by said body for cooperative engagement with said. needles upon operating movement of said frame, movement ofi'said frame in' one direction causing engagement.

ofone needle with saiddepressor for moving, said one needle into an operative position and movement of saicl frame in the other direction causing engagement of the other needletwith' said depressor for inoving said other needle into an operative position, a vibration sensitive 'device operatively connected tosaid depressor for producing, an electrical-signal in response to vibration of said'de pressor by the needle which is engaged therewith, a. detent 'cam surfacetprovided on. said frame, and a dc tentroller carriedtb y said body for operative engagement .7 5 with said cam surface, said surface having two positioning portions which correspond respectively with the positions of said frame at which said respective needles engage said depressor.

7. A phonograph cartridge comprising a supporting member, needle supporting means carried by said supporting member for rectilinear motion, a plurality of needles carried by said means, and means in the way of movement of said needles engageable by one or the other of said needles when said supporting means is moved for moving an engaged needle froma non-operative position to an operative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bodine et al. Nov. 16, 1926 Dunning Dec. 1, 1931 Dann et a1 Dec. 12, 1950 Moore Oct. 14, 1952 Wennerbo et a1 Sept. 21, 1954 Klingener Sept. 13, 1955 Harris Dec. 10, 1957 

